Tag: top-30 visit

Report: Colts scheduled for top-30 visit with DT Brodric Martin

The Colts are scheduled to host Western Kentucky DT Brodric Martin for a top-30 visit.

The Indianapolis Colts have one of the best interior defensive line duos in the league, but adding depth to both defensive tackle spots is always on the checklist for this regime.

It’s partly why the Colts reportedly have a top-30 visit scheduled with Western Kentucky defensive tackle Brodric Martin, according to Ryan Fowler of The Draft Network.

With DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart leading the way at the top of the defensive tackle depth chart, the need for depth is there. Martin is projected as a Day 3 pick and profiles mostly as a run-stopper working from the one-technique position.

Though we don’t have his testing numbers, Martin is listed at 6-foot-4 and 334 pounds with 34 3/8-inch arms and a wingspan of 84 1/4 inches.

Martin is known for his strength against the run and ability to set an anchor on early downs even if he may be limited as a pass rusher.

Considering the depth needed behind Stewart at the one-technique position, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Martin’s name was called by the Colts on Day 3 of the draft.

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Report: Colts to host QB Anthony Richardson for top-30 visit

The Colts are scheduled to host QB Anthony Richardson for a top-30 visit.

The Indianapolis Colts are scheduled to host Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson on an official top-30 visit ahead of the 2023 NFL draft, per Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network.

This was to be expected as the Colts are likely to hold an official visit with all four of the top quarterback prospects over the month of April ahead of the draft, and Richardson is one of the most polarizing prospects in the entire class.

The Colts are just one of many teams scheduled to host Richardson on an official visit, a list that also includes the Carolina Panthers at No. 1 overall.

While he may not agree with the notion, Richardson’s profile is all about projection. He has just one year of starting experience under his belt at the collegiate level and it was met with mixed reviews.

The upside is certainly there. Richardson has the type elite size, athleticism, mobility and arm strength to translate at an extremely high level in the NFL. He’s surprisingly better at going through progressions than one might think for a one-year starter, and he has shown some underrated pocket manipulation as well.

But there some major kinks to work out in his game. He must improve to find consistent footwork and lower-body mechanics, especially when it comes to his narrow base. Often times, he fails to open his front hip enough on a throw, causing the ball to sail off-target.

Richardson also must learn the ability to control the velocity of his throws. Adding a bit of touch on some of his fades and crossers would have resulted in a higher completion percentage during his one year as a starter, which often is used as a major red flag.

Richardson is very much in the conversation for the No. 4 overall pick, and the Colts will get to continue their extensive pre-draft work on the incoming rookie when he arrives in the Circle City during the month of April.

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Colts scheduled for top-30 visit with QB Will Levis

The Colts have a top-30 visit scheduled with Kentucky QB Will Levis.

The Indianapolis Colts are scheduled to host Kentucky quarterback Will Levis on an official top-30 visit ahead of the 2023 NFL draft.

The date for the visit wasn’t announced, and this should come as no surprise. It’s expected the Colts will host all four of the top quarterback prospects in the class on official visits at some point throughout the month of April.

It is interesting, though, that Levis said Friday at his pro day that he hasn’t had much contact with the team leading up to the pro day.

Though anything can happen in the draft, the top two selections are expected to be in some order of C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young. The expectation is that the Colts will likely be choosing between Levis and Florida’s Anthony Richardson. It’s tough to know who they would prefer at this point.

Levis checks a lot of the boxes the Colts will be looking for in their franchise quarterback. He has the character, leadership and work ethic they value in the position. He also brings a strong build with elite arm strength.

However, he’s certainly going to need to improve his decision-making and accuracy. Some of that can be cleaned up with improving his throwing mechanics, specifically his footwork. His affinity for taking sacks at a high rate also is an issue the Colts are all too familiar with.

There is certainly upside to Levis’ game, and he brings the make-up qualities the Colts value at the quarterback position. We’ll see if this visit will improve his stock at all when Indy is on the clock at No. 4 overall.

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Vikings set to meet with Bowling Green DL Karl Brooks on top-30 visit

Brooks is a high-upside lineman who could make an immediate impact on the #Vikings’ defense in 2023

The Minnesota Vikings are set to meet with Bowling Green defensive lineman Karl Brooks on a top-30 visit ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft. Brooks, who was a standout for the Falcons last season, is one of the more underrated linemen in the upcoming class.
Despite being a first-team All-American selection by Pro Football Focus and making the All-MAC first team in 2022, he has managed to fly under the radar of most fans who aren’t familiar with Bowling Green’s football program.
Despite this, the Vikings seem to be well aware of Brooks’ talent and upside and could target the promising prospect with one of their premium picks in the upcoming draft. Minnesota needs as much help as they can get on defense, and given Brooks’ versatile skillset as a pass rusher and run stuffer up front, he could prove to be a natural fit for the Vikings’ front four.
Time will tell if this pre-draft visit plays out in such a way that would become consequential to their strategy during the annual selection meeting, but the prospect of adding such a capable defender should excite Vikings fans who have clamored for defensive upgrades after the team’s early exit from the playoffs in January.

Report: Colts scheduled to host QB Hendon Hooker for top-30 visit

The Colts reportedly have a top-30 visit scheduled with QB Hendon Hooker.

The Indianapolis Colts reportedly are scheduled to host Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker for a top-30 visit ahead of the 2023 NFL draft, according to Ryan Fowler of The Draft Network.

Though Hooker isn’t going to be in consideration for the Colts’ selection in the first round, there are plenty of teams who may target him during the second or even late first round of drafts.

According to Fowler, Hooker had a top-30 visit with the Houston Texans and also has visits scheduled with the New York Giants, Tennessee Titans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers along with the Colts.

With the Panthers trading up to the No. 1 overall pick, the Colts are likely to get the third quarterback off the board. However, they are still going to go through their due diligence when it comes to the majority of quarterback prospects in this class.

Hooker’s visit will likely be mostly so the Colts can get the latest updates on his recovery from ACL reconstruction surgery. He suffered the injury during the college football season and wasn’t able to go through drills at the NFL combine.

There are reports that Hooker could be ready to go by the time training camp rolls around, which would make some teams a bit more comfortable with his status.

Here’s what Lance Zierlein of NFL.com said about Hooker in his scouting report while comparing him to Desmond Ridder:

Hooker’s age and ACL tear will be starting points for many draft conversations, but the most important question to be answered is whether he can thrive outside of the Tennessee offense. Hooker was frequently a half-field reader, which means he could lean on spacing, speed and/or route combinations to make life easier. He’s more accurate outside the numbers than between the hashes and his deep ball placement was much more uneven than expected. However, Hooker plays with excellent poise and footwork as a pocket passer. He will make quarterback coaches and play-callers happy with his adherence to keeping plays on schedule. He’s still showing signs of improvement and growth at the position, and his ability to hurt teams with his legs creates opportunities to help his offense outside of what he does in the pocket. His recovery from the ACL tear will require monitoring, but he has the talent to become a starter in a timing-based, spread offense.

It isn’t clear whether the Colts would seriously consider not taking a quarterback in the first round, but we shouldn’t dismiss anything out of hand.

Hooker is likely to hear his name called on Day 2 of the draft and even though the Colts are projected to use their first-round pick on a quarterback, this is still something to monitor.

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Report: Colts to host OT Dawand Jones for top-30 visit

The Colts reportedly will host Ohio State OT Dawand Jones for a top-30 visit.

The Indianapolis Colts reportedly are scheduled to host Ohio State offensive tackle Dawan Jones for a top-30 visit ahead of the 2023 NFL draft.

Jones, a senior, is considered to be one of the top offensive tackles in the class. He brings elite size and measurables to the position while moving surprising well.

The news was first reported by Ryan Fowler of The Draft Network.

Every team is allotted 30 visits at team facilities with draft-eiligble prospects each year. During these visits, the prospects likely meet with coaching staff members and front office executives while getting a tour of the team facilities.

Also, this will be a good time for the teams to go over a player’s game film with them in order to try and get a better understanding of their football knowledge and their process of studying the game. They’ll also just use this time to get to know the person behind the player and get an idea of how they’d fit into team culture and within the community.

At 6-foot-8 and 374 pounds, Jones was the heaviest player at the NFL combine. He measured in with rare 36 3/8-inch arms and 11 5/8-inch hands. While he didn’t do the agility drills, he did run a 5.35 in the 40-yard dash, which is pretty good considering his size.

Here’s what Lance Zierlein of NFL.com said about Jones in his scouting report, labeling him as a player who “will eventually be a plus starter:”

Massive right tackle with rare length but limited athleticism that impacts his consistency. Defenders accustomed to winning with power will need to switch up their approach against Jones. His physical traits help cover up some of his athletic deficiencies, while his power can be better unleashed with accurate hand strikes and a run scheme tailored to what he does best. The former high school basketball standout has decent slide quickness in protection but is unable to find his feet when attempting to match inside counters or stall out gaming fronts. Jones is a work in progress with holes that will have to be covered up with scheme help, but he should become a starting right tackle if he maintains the playing weight his team desires.

The Colts are certainly going to dive into this offensive line class considering their need for depth both at tackle and guard. Jones seems to be heading toward Day 2 draft capital, which means the Colts likely would have to use their second or third-round pick if they want him, assuming they don’t trade up to the No. 1 pick.

This also is a good time for the Colts to get a bit more information on quarterback C.J. Stroud, who is likely high on the team’s radar.

We’ll see what the end of April has in store for Jones, but he’s certainly getting interest from the Colts in the form of a top-30 visit, which does carry some significance.

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Tracking the Colts’ top-30 visits, private workouts

Tracking the Colts’ reported Top-30 visits and private workouts ahead of the 2022 NFL draft.

The Indianapolis Colts are just two weeks away from the 2022 NFL draft where they are hoping to add long-term talent to the roster.

Throughout the offseason, we’ve covered plenty of prospects that have met with the Colts both formally and informally. The phrase “top-30 visit” has been used countless times this offseason and while it can be tedious trying to sift through workouts and visits, there is a reason for the distinction.

Our friends over at Chiefs Wire explained the difference between a top-30 visit and a private workout perfectly so we’ll let them explain it:

First, we’ll start with the top-30 visit. Every team is allotted 30 prospects visits at team facilities with draft prospects each year. Teams can use these on whichever draft-eligible players they want, be it high-value targets who could be selected in the first round or players who might not be drafted at all.

While players are on top-30 visits they’ll have a chance to meet with coaching staff members, front office executives and tour the team facilities. Teams will often go over a player’s game film with them in order to try and get a better understanding of their football knowledge and how they study the game. They’ll also just generally spend time with them to get to know the person behind the player and get an idea of how they’d fit in team culture and within the community.

These top-30 visits can sometimes be medically motivated. These visits allow the team to perform a medical evaluation on the prospect if there are any concerns during the pre-draft process.

The workouts differ from the visit. They don’t take place at a team’s facility and typically happen at the school of the prospect in question. Given that the teams will run the prospect through drills like at their pro day, these are more performance motivated.

The Colts have met with several prospects this offseason. Not all of them will get reported. Luckily, Brent (@FanOfNuance) indirectly helped us out with his extensive prospect tracker this offseason. We’ll only be including private workouts and top-30 visits in this article but for more information, we highly recommend checking out Brent’s tracker.

We will continue to update this list until the draft arrives at the end of the month.